Annual Dinner 2013!

Updates:

More than 300 people gathered in The Classic Center Atrium to celebrate the 87 hard-working women receiving JRF scholarships this year. Scholar speaker Kellirae sang beautifully and was accompanied by local talent Jim McKillip. After Kellirae's speech, Margaret Holt was so inspired, that she took to the stage and challenged guests to donate a scholarship. Attendees rose to the ocassion and donated $3,296 to fund the Friends of Kellirae Award.

Betty Jean Craige received the JRF Founders' Award with a moving speech, and Judith Ortiz Cofer honored us with a speech and reading.

JRF Scholar Sustainers monthly giving program

We're excited to introduce our new monthly giving program, JRF Scholar Sustainers! A group of amazing donors have been giving monthly for a while now, and it finally clicked that monthly giving is not only convenient for you, but it helps scholars all year long.

When you donate monthly, you provide more than financial aid. In addition to a $2000 scholarship, JRF scholars receive support and encouragement all year, and each woman has direct access to Program Coordinator April Greene. Monthly gifts provide the resources for us to better work with the women who receive JRF scholarships.

Plus, it's easy to make a huge impact because monthly gifts add up to help women conquer poverty. JRF Scholar Sustainers make a difference at a variety of levels because their gifts are used where they're needed most. These levels give you an idea of what your gifts can do:

$15/month = placement exams so a scholar can earn her degree faster

$100/month = textbooks, supplies and lab fees so a scholar can fully participate in classes

$25/month = a laptop so a scholar can do classwork and write papers while she's home with her kids

$210/month = a scholarship for a woman whose education means she can conquer poverty

$50/month = brown bag lunches to keep a scholar healthy and focused

Of course, your monthly gift of any amount is greatly appreciated!

To donate through your bank account, download the donation form by clicking here. To donate through your credit card, click here.

Community Pillar Award goes to JRF supporter

Joyce Waller, Director of Material Services at Athens Regional Medical Center (ARMC), was recently honored with the Shelby J. Lacy Community Pillar Award. She received the award in recognition of her selfless and substantial contributions of time and talent to the ARMC community.

As recipient of the award, Joyce had the opportunity to donate $500 to the charity of her choice and she chose JRF! Joyce has consistently supported the organization for 13 years, beginning when she first moved to Athens.

Joyce continues to spend time each year helping with scholar selection and rallying others at ARMC to donate the ARMC Staff Award. A strong voice in the community, Joyce is an advocate for women's education and the support JRF provides to its scholars.

“Assisting with an individual’s education not only helps the individual, but instills the knowledge in the family/children of the individual, that education is a means to move ahead economically and socially,” she says. “JRF opens doors for our recipients. So many of our applicants have no support system. JRF becomes the support system.”

In addition to volunteering at JRF, Joyce is also the board chair of Children First and a volunteer for the Master Gardener program, the Catholic Center and Adopt A Highway for Athens Clarke County. The Shelby J. Lacy Community Pillar Award is given in recognition of Shelby J. Lacy, a retired long-time employee of the Athens Regional Health Services who dedicated her life to the betterment of the community.

Scholar selection and support

Jeannette Rankin Fund volunteers are getting ready for the third, and final, level of application review. Starting with nearly 800 applications, pairs of dedicated supporters have read, analyzed and selected women to move to through two steps in the review process, ultimately ending with a group discussion at level three.

This year, about 60 applicants will be in the final stage of review. From that 60, one-third will not be selected for JRF scholarships. Many long-time volunteers decline to read at level three because the decisions are not easy and there are so many amazing women who need help.

A total of 87 renewal and new scholarships will be awarded this year, more than ever before. Each woman who is selected for a JRF scholarship will receive $2000 for the upcoming school year. Beyond that, she will be able to renew for up to five years, totaling $10,000 towards her education.

In addition, JRF scholars receive support year round from full-time Program Coordinator April Greene and from other JRF scholars and alumna in a closed Facebook group. JRF scholars often mention how important this care and encouragement is during times of stress and discouragement.

Donors and volunteers make all of this possible, and in this, JRF’s $2 Million year, we are grateful for all they’ve helped JRF scholars accomplish.

Congratulations to our quilt raffle winner!

On Sunday, Linda P. from Atlanta was named the winner of this year's quilt raffle! Upon hearing the news, she said: "How wonderful - I am so happy to support a good cause - but what a nice treat to win the quilt!!!"

It will be delivered to her later this week.

Thank you to everyone who entered and supported scholarships for low-income women. You donated more than $2200! That will help provide a scholarship to a woman this year.